The organizations will work together to invest, build and operate rail infrastructure at Ashcroft Terminal to reduce congestion within the Port of Vancouver, support capacity growth and enhance resiliency within the critical Asia-Pacific Gateway trade corridor. “This partnership will advance the efficient movement of imports and exports in Western Canada and help deliver goods to market faster,” said the partners.

Ashcroft Terminal Ltd, majority-owned and operated by PSA International, is BC’s largest inland terminal, located around 300 kms east of Vancouver. it will provide infrastructure for railcar storage and staging for improved resiliency and cargo fluidity along the Asia-Pacific Gateway Corridor. This will help remove bottlenecks along this major transportation corridor. The parties anticipate the railcar storage programme to be operational by fall 2024. 

“Creating supply chain resiliency within the Vancouver Gateway is becoming increasingly more important to mitigate against challenging disruptions that can have devastating impacts to trade fluidity and the reliable movement of goods to and from the Port of Vancouver,” said Peter Xotta, VP, operations and supply chain at Vancouver Fraser Port Authority. 

“This partnership presents an exciting opportunity to enhance port-related trade capacity in the region and reduce congestion within the supply chain, which will lead to more reliable access for Canadians to the goods they need to support their families and businesses.”

Chris Shubert, CEO and CCO at Ashcroft Terminal, said: “The letter of intent is an exciting first step in strengthening Western Canada’s supply chain. The Asia-Pacific Gateway Corridor connects Canada to the rest of the world, moving critical cargo such as retail goods, bulk products, food, and natural resources. Ashcroft Terminal is the inland terminal equipped and strategically positioned to manage this new rail program and facilitate the fluid movement of Canada’s major economic drivers.”